The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-14
THE spy OF THE SHENANDOAH.
One of NIosby's Men Brings to Life Some
Stories About Him.

One of NIosby's Men Brings to Life Some
Stories About Him.
st. Louis Special.
John w. Munson, of this city. who was with
Colonel Mosby during the war, tells some inter-
esting facts about Pardon Warseley, the Union
spy of the Shenandoah, who died at jamestown,
T. last ain vsb Xoo m MnsnH sad
1864, on a scouting trip when one of our men
rode up and informed the Colonel that Yankee
peddler had just driven into Middleburg, Va,
with a wagon load of goods. We met old Warse-
ley, as be told his name was, few hours
after sitting in his wagon with his wife by his
side. Mosby asked him few questions and got
very straightforward answers and with more
delay said to him:
Now Warseley, let's understand each other
from the start. You are Yankee spy sent up
here to try to catch me or my men, but we have
been catching suffers too long to be caught by
poor a specimen as you. 1 want to make use
of you, and as | intend, you shall make money
by it. | am not afraid to trust you. / want
you to do the shopping for my command. We
will give you orders to fill in Baltimore and
Washington and you bring us the goods and
make your big profits on them, and will pro-
tect you. If any OF my men harm you will
punish them.
.'You can carry this inst as long as you
choose for you have only to report to your
masters in Washington, after you return there
from each trip after me, that you have not
quite caught me yet, but you hope to do so the
next time. I'll give my men notice that they
can begin making up their orders for YOU at
once Recolect, don't object to your TAXI ng
back all the information you choose, nor to your
trying to catch me or the men. If it amuses
you it don't hurt us. All / require of you for
the protection 1 grant you, instead of having
you shot. is that you fill all our orders prompt
ly. What do you sayP
"Old Warseley was too smart a trader not to
see that this was grand chance for him. and he
not only accepted the Colouel's offer but liv ed
up to 1t honestly and made plenty of money by
it. At the first meeting with him gave him
order for eight yards of gray corduroy, with all
the necessary buff and gold trimmings, buttons
Innings, etc, for nobbv suit also for a soft hat
with gold cord and ostrich plume; also a pair of
fine cavalry boots, and lastly, for the hand
soonest doll-baby he could find in Baltimore
Colonel Mosby ordered sack of coffee and some
other goods
''Warssley went back loaded with orders. and
in due time he came back with every order
filled. He charged me 81 yard for the cordu-
roy, SO for the hat, SIS for the boots and $40
for the doll baby. but he paid me 81 pound for
big box of chewing tobacco. He not only
filled orders for Mosbys men. but for citizens
generally, buying any article ordered. We looked
upon him godsend and never thought of
being suspicious of him. We knew our man too
we'll
Had the authorities in Washing ton who en-
ployed him not seen through his little game and
put stop TO It he might have kept up his ped
ding to the end of the Finally, when he
was found out by his employers he informed on
some Baltimore merchants who had sold him
goods. knowing that they were to go South and
had them arrested. This is the only thing we
had against him. Colonel Mosbv never tried TO
catch him, for Warsely admitted very frankly
who he was soon as he heard Colonel Mosby's
favorable proposition. Nor did the Colonel ever
set any handsome young lady to spy upon him. ,
and Warsely never led any handsome young
lady through swamps and by-roads. for his
Union passes and Mosby's protection made trav-
cling along the main turnpike much handler.
Mosby never put pistol to WArseleys head
never threatened TO shoot him; never fought
duel with General Lees nephew about him, and
never became his warm friend"